Intel announces Falcon 8+ drone with a top speed of 35 mph (and an awesome controller)

Intel continues its assault on the unmanned aerial drone industry this week with the introduction of the Falcon 8+ for North American markets.

The Falcon 8+ (not to be confused with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket) builds on the success of the AscTech Falcon 8 already in commission in the European market. The chipmaker, if you recall, purchased Ascending Technologies early this year for an undisclosed sum.

Rather than going after the hot consumer market, Intel’s new drone is built specifically for commercial-grade applications. Josh Walden, a senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s New Technology Group, says the Falcon 8+ is setting a new standard for commercial-grade drones with full electronic system redundancy (think batteries, sensors, communications hardware and more).

Operators will control the Falcon 8+ using the Intel Cockpit, a redesigned mobile ground station that’s sturdy enough to use even in harsh outdoor environments. As you can see by the photo above, this is a seriously detailed bit of kit that should allow operators to pilot the drone with a high degree of precision.

With a top speed of around 35 miles per hour, it’ll also be able to outrun most consumer-facing, hobby drones.

Intel hasn’t yet said how much the bundle will sell for although given its looks and that awesome controller, I imagine it won’t be cheap.